The Opelousas courier., 1887-07-16
HOW I WAS PROMOTED.

tTom,n said the chief, there has been
a rather mysterious robbery at Barrow
town, and its likely to give the locals
some trouble. So I wish you to go down
as soon as possible.
This order Ircceived one hot day in
August, on the day after the robbery
had taken place. OF course, | did not
let much time pass before I was at the
station and fairly started. Once there,
Barrytown is a quaint, picturesque little
town. It seemed almost too dull to be
able to boast the doubtful honor of hay-
ing had o full-grown robbery. Still
ike the quiet town, for it was there that
gained my first promotion. was met
at the station by the local inspector, a
stout, pompous, excitable little man,
who looked doubtful as to the prudence
of the Scotland Yard authorities in
sending down such an ordinary looking
mortal as myself.
"Oh,n he remarked at last; $50 it's
you, young man, is it2 I don't think
w are likely to trouble you much this
time. The fact is, ahem! we have
caught the culprit ourselves"
] merely bowed, and expressed q wish
to see the prisoner; and We both set off
for the country jail, perhaps a mile or
SO away.
We'll, it certainly seemed as plain as
day to me that the unhappy wretch on
whom Inspector Muggridgs had laid
his fell grasp could easily have proved
an alibi had not that worthy officer con-
tinually interrupted him with:
Better keep that for your examine
ton, my good fellow; or it III all be
brought up against you, my man, you
know"
! told him seriously, as Don as ]
could in private, that the man he had
arrested was no moro guilty than I was;
but he Simply smiled incrcdulously, and
asked who else could be the culprit, as
this was the only really abandoned
character of the town, and it was p.ain-
y the work of come one who knew the
place.
Besides he added, sit isn't very
likely that any one could beat me on my
own ground, where / know everybody,
you know; and if he didn't do it, who
did?"
With which really transferable argu-
ment he accompanied me to the scene of
the robbery, where we were shown over
the premises by the mistress of the
house.
When I Jaw the ground floor window
by which access had been gained to the
house I quite agreed with the worthy
'slocal" hat it was not the work OF a
thew hand,n and that from the fact that
his footprints, wherever we could trace
them, showed no hesitation, but rather
a thorough acquaintance with the
grounds; the culprit, whoever he was,
must have had some opportunity Of vs.
ting the scene of operations, and prob
ably lived somewhere in the neighbor-
hood.
Il seemed That the thief had
entered the house by a window in the
rear. AMI carried of d small box of val
uables from the room Of the master Of
the house, who had been staying at a
friends that night. Both these facts
showed an intimate knowledge of the
premises o. the part Of the culprit, and
strengthened our former belief.
We were informed that the lost casket
Ian ordinary tin cash box-had been
almost filed with various articles Of Jew
elry, and, therefore, the loss was rather
heavy. OF course the knowledge that
there would be q good reward for the re-
coyery Of the missing property did not
abate my zeal. Still, in spite Of my
cagerness to discover the culprit, Icould
make but little Of the case, and might
even have TO come over to the opinion Of
the tlocal'' but for one very important
fact, namely, the footprints in the gar
den-bcd were all smaller than those Of
the prisoner. Now, although a man may
wear boots several sizes too large for him
on occasion, yet be a hardly walk with
comfort IN shoes an inch or so too short.
Very much annoyed at my want of sue
cess. and dreading tho chaf ! would be
sure TO get when, compelled to give it
up. / should return to town, ] was not
particularly delighted next morning to
see Mr. Muggridgo coming up the road
TO tho house, accompanied ~ the editor
ol The Barrowtown Banner, who had de-
t~ermined, he said, 70 write up the ac-
count Of the robbery himself.
But there was no escape, and 50, pre-
pared for + host Of questions i was
walking slowly f. meet them when my
eyes we're caught By something bright
among ths bushes by tha roadside. Yea.
there could BY 20 doubt of u; there lay
the lest box, empty, u course. Without
stopping, however | walked b calmly
~ possible 81 - the inspector. and was
introduced b MFs Shears Tie editor
II Was simply wonderful how obliging
! had become LEVER when M Mug